Egypt’s terrorist containment loses traction, after 9 men killed

After losing 9 soldiers dead and 59 wounded in heavy battles with the ISIS Sinai affiliate Sunday, DEBKAfile reports that Western military experts conclude that the Egyptian strategy of containment for the terrorist group has failed in its object. In fact, since its initiation, the terrorist group has gained strength. The Egyptian army and police are now confined to a small section of northern Sinai between Rafah on the Gaza border and El Arish on the coast. The terrorists lie in wait and kill any uniformed Egyptians leaving their bases. Egyptian officers blame the local Bedouin tribes for abetting ISIS attacks with intelligence feeds, ferrying the terrorists to target and driving them to safety after attacks aboard 4×4 trucks. These trucks will soon be banned in all parts of northern Sinai in an effort to reduce the tribes’ usefulness as ISIS accessories.